Families Of Iran Protest Victims Vow to Continue Fight for Justice

Families of Iranians killed during the nationwide protests of the past year and those of November 2019, vowed to continue their uprising against the Islamic Republic.

In a joint statement, accompanied by the hashtag "November Continues,” they expressed their determination on social media, declaring “We, as families seeking justice, announce that, at the risk of our lives, we will continue the path of November against the Islamic Republic."

The 2019 protests, often referred to as Bloody November, initially erupted due to a significant increase in fuel prices, quickly transforming into demands for government overthrow and opposition to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

According to a rights group report, the Islamic Republic security forces allegedly killed at least 3,000 protesters from November 15 to 17, with nearly 20,000 arrests. Reuters, at the time, reported 1,500 deaths.

Recent reports from rights groups also shed light on the aftermath of protests sparked by the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini in custody, indicating that over 500 people, including minors, lost their lives, thousands were injured, and 22,000 were arrested. 

The Islamic Republic's response to the protests has included several death sentences for demonstrators, with seven of them already executed.

The Iranian judiciary claims the verdicts were issued by a fair trial, but details were not disclosed. The government often restricts defendants from choosing their legal representation, and due process is frequently absent in similar cases.